Compound stiffening fabric.



No. 665,996. Patented 1an. l5, ISOI'.

C. H. CROWELL.

COMPOUND STIFFENING FABRIC. (Application led MM'. 20, 1899.)

(No Modem NTTED- STATES PATENT rrr-rca.

CHARLES H. CROWELL, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE CARTER, RICE & COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

COMPOUND STIFFENING FABRIC.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 665,996, dated January 15, 1901.

Application filed March 20, 1899. Serial No. 709,731. (No specimens.)

T0 @ZZ whom t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. CROWELL,

-a citizen of the United States, residing at Lynn, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusettsmave invented certain new and useful Improvements in Compound Stiffening Fabrics, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention consists in an improved compound fabric composed of two or more webs or plies of cloth united together and possessing properties which iitit for a variety of uses, but more especiallyT as a stiffening or in places where its elastic springiness comes into play.

The accompanying drawing is intended to serve to illustrate the com pound character of the fabric, it presenting a view of a fabric composed of two webs or plies joined or united together, portions of the said webs or plies being represented as diverging from each other in order 'the more clearly to suggest the general structure of the fabric.

In the said drawing, 1 and 2 designate two webs or cloths of rather fine and light texture. 3 designates the compound fabric containing l the said webs or cloths united together. I have shown two webs or cloths joined or united together; but any desired number greater than two may be employed, according as it is desired the thickness and other properties of the compound fabric shall Vary in order to fit the same for different uses and purposes. It will be understood, therefore, that my improved compound fabric comprises a plurality of plies, each ply having as its base a woven web or cloth of fairly fine and light texture. Each web or cloth is separately treated and prepared before being united with the others. I treat the same to give body and substance thereto, without, however, giving any material increase of thickness. Thus I apply to each web or cloth separately a composition which fills up the interstices thereof. This composition is in the nature of a waterproof size. Various kinds of Waterproof sizes or finishing compounds are well-known in the art and choice may be made of such as are adapted to the subsequent uses of my fabric. It is not necessary that the webs or cloths cloths.

should be completely waterproof, and hence in making choice of ingredients and applying the waterproofing size or filling I take care that there shall be left in the webs or cloths a slight degree of permeability or absorptiveness for water. Before the waterproofing size or filling becomes dry or set I subject the sized or filled webs or cloths to heavy compression, thereby forcing the size or filling thoroughly into the interstices and among the fibers of the webs or cloths, expelling the excess and condensing and compacting the Webs or This treatment renders the webs or cloths thin, dense, smooth, and firm, as well as more or less stiff and also patially waterproof. I now unite two or more of the prepared webs together by the aid of a glue composition containing by preference animal glue and some substance, such as glucose, capable of serving in a well-known manner for promoting the absorptive powers of the glue composition for water. The glucose or other .known equivalent therefor is commonly termed a softener and operates by increasing the power of the glue composition to take up moisture, so that when subjected to the action of moisture the said composition softens promptly and also without requiring to be treated with such an excess of water or to such a long soaking as to dissolve away the glue.

The compound fabric which is produced by the foregoing process, it comprising a plurality of sheets of prepared and partially-waterproofed cloth united together by a glue composition, possesses a high degree of elasticity combined with stiffness. It is very springy. At the same time it will bend at a very sharp angle upon itself without either permanently creasing or breaking. It is moderately absorptive of water and is capable upon the application of moisture of being rendered highly pliable. The glue composition is exceedingly tenacious, and on account of the presence of the softener therein the said composition will soften without dissolving. Hence the plies will not separate under the application of moisture to render the compound fabric pliable, and while the said fabric is in a moist and pliable condition it is capable of being molded intoany desired IOO original hardness, stiffness, elasticity-5` and-- other properties. It is much thinner in proportion than any other stifening fabric with l which I am acquainted.

One use in particular for which my fabric is especially iitted and designed is in the manufacture of tip and counter stiffeners for boots and shoes. It is capable of being moldedl to any shape of toe or heel stiffener that'is required. Its stiffness, elasticity, and freedom from tendency to crack or break when bent under pressure and the readiness with which it returns into shape after being relieved from pressure, combined With its'thinness, render it especially Valuable and'serviceable in the manufacture of stiifeners for box-*toes for fine footwear. It can be made of any thickness to suit the needs in connection with counter-stilfeners by putting together therequired number of Webs or plies in the process of being produced.

I claim as my inventionl. As an article of manufacture, the partially-absorbent compound stiening fabric herein described, adapted to soften under the Y application of moisture and to belrnolded into l the required shape while thus softened, consisti-ngeof a plurality of plies united by an absorbent adhesive, and having each ply thereof constituted of a thin web of cloth charged lWith partially-Waterproof size and in a compressed and condensed state, substantially as set forth.

2. The process of manufacturing com pound stiening fabric which consists in separately treating thin Webs of cloth with a partially- Waterproof size, then subjecting the respective Webs of cloth to pressure, thereby cornpressinga'nd condensing theI same, and then l uniting a plurality of the thus-prepared Webs of cloth togetherby means'of a glue composi-V -tion containing a softener .to` promote subsequent absorptionof Water, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afx my signature in presence of two Witnesses'.

CHARLES H. CROWEL-L.

Witnesses:

CHAs. F. RANDALL,

WILLIAM A. GOPELAND. 

